The one in the photo used to be a Baileys Marvel-lol. Its now a rootstock marvel. The Manila I first bought in 2003? or even 2002. It grew in a pot to about 9' (excluding pot height) and flowered and had fruit. The next winter-2007 came along..and since it had taken frost before I left it alone. Big Mistake. Like Baileys later...the winter after fruiting just weakened the tree's cold tolerance. Now I know..I would tell ANYBODY in the San Francisco bay area that these tree's can do well in our cool summers,but need protection after fruiting especially. Its the fine taste that makes it worth it..and they are small tree's here. Easy to find a spot. It might not be to everyone's idea of gardening to protect EVERY winter,when here almost nothing else at the nursery asks for that. But we California Mango people do it!

bnicebkind, I am sure you are suspect about my advice. However, I have an exact replica of OP's MIL. MIL is the most overbearing, rude, miserable, critical (and those are the nice descriptions) individual I know. I found that once I stopped taking her comments to heart and let it go in one ear and out the other (rather than engaging her and allowing her to make me feel insecure), I was able to straighten my back, listen to her comments, consider the source, respond politely and wait for her to leave. My MIL is a person who's thoughts never process in her brain, they come straight out of her mouth without thought that one or another comment may be offensive, hurtful, critical, etc. If you don't allow someone to hurt you, you take the power away from them. Fake it at first if you have to, and eventually you will actually feel it. I spent years crying to my husband when I would have to be in her presence and she belittled me. DH gave me good advice. Call her on it. When she says something that you don't like, tell her. I do now. I never raise my voice, I never get worked up, I just tell her straight up what I don't like. I do not let her ruffle my feathers. It works better to disagree with her in the moment and then there aren't residual feelings of hurt or insecurity. It actually works like a charm. The incidents are fewer and further between. I also realized that I did not want my husband to fight my battles and I certainly did not want my husband to insist his mother like me. If she doesn't like me, I no longer care. When I started realizing that my life was none of her business, I did have the backbone to tell her so when she asked an improper financial question or a question I felt was too personal. Everyone has to go with their own comfort zone. I hated that she got to me regularly. I was feeling insecure, which I hated since that is not me. MIL knew she was pushing my buttons and worse, I was letting her. I have now diffused her and she no longer has that power to aggravate, hurt or insult me. I posted about just taking a seat in another room rather than ruin the whole family dynamic. That is what I do. I don't want to be the cause of everyone not being able to celebrate a holiday together. If MIL has pi$$ed me off recently, I just say hello when I walk in and go on my way to a different room. Of course, we will have to sit at the same table for dinner, but there are usually other family members and actually, they all know how she is. It isn't just me she unleashes this behavior on. She is rude to everyone at times, including strangers in public. We joke in the family that she has Turrets. Who would be hurt if I refused to go to family functions that she was attending. My DD wouldn't see her cousins, I love my SIL and the other family members. Actually, I'd be spiting myself. When I came into DH family, the dynamic was different, I was younger. I soon had a baby with many health problems which were not expected. MIL found a place to be critical and be overbearing in the advice department. I finally just told her that I was following what my DD's doctors wanted me to do and that when she completed her medical degree I would take her advice. Now, I don't feel insecure at all, I ignore her, come back at her, listen and let it go in one ear and out the other, or whatever it takes so as not to give her the satisfaction of upsetting, insulting me. I think as I grew older I also got alot wiser and realized that in the whole scheme of things, MIL was a blip on the radar. Example - new floor laid recently in kitchen, laundry and my office. MIL comes over unannounced/uninvited. Comments how nice the floor looks but the color really isn't right, such and such color would have been much better. Response: This is the color I chose because DH and I like it. End of subject, diffused her. Do I hate that she is the way she is, yes indeed. Will I allow her to abuse me the way she did for years, never again, nor will I have my husband fight my battles for me. Example: I attend a family (DH relatives) shower. Arrive with MIL & SIL. We sit down to eat at a very long table full of women. MIL stands up and introduces SIL to several women SIL did not know. I knew a few, but not many. She did not even acknowledge that I was seated in the room. When she was finished her introductions, I stood up and introduced myself as my DH's wife. It got the point across that I am worthy, whether she thinks so or not. I think she also looked badly to the relatives whom I did know who were watching her intentionally ignore me. I am sorry if my examples seem pollyanna, but they have worked for me. I don't feel badly, insecure, hurt or any other adjective that I formerly felt when MIL would descend on my home or when I had to interact with her. I also have never asked my husband to choose to one of us. That would be wrong in my opinion. As much as dislike her, she is his mother, the only mother he will ever have. I wouldn't want to have to choose my husband or my mother, why would I ask DH to do so? The way I deal with this situation is not for everyone. You need to have alot of self-esteem and a bullet proof vest over your heart. It starts with mostly false bravado, which eventually becomes actual bravery.

Yaoman gave away the truck a few seasons back. I don't really consider it a dumb move. I've read that he didn't actually want the truck because it was a gas guzzler. I think he had figured out that he would have to pay taxes on it so it wasn't worth it to him. The truck was worth the most to him as a great bargaining chip.

I thought I heard "three tribal councils"? Which would mean a final two instead of a final three. Man. I was so happy last night and so loud, I upset the dogs. lol Yay for Stephen but I think JT was bothered that Stephen broke ranks with him. I commend him for his brains in getting rid of Coach after all of Coach's BS and well, BS! Coach should have been a Drama coach instead of a soccer coach. He's the most pathetic, screwed up man I have ever seen. SUCH a poser. His whole life is him telling himself (and anyone who will listen or can't get away fast enough) that's HE'S the best thing in the world and that he has the best philosophy in life of any man ever born. WHAT a JOKE! Afraid to go to Exile? "Oh, I'll fast and meditate" (that way the camera man won't be able to get proof that I am hopeless by myself and can't make fire or boil water or get food, I just won't try.) Erinn should have mentioned THAT along with her little say-so that she was almost ousted over. I thought she was brave to call Coach out like that and I thought JT was a hypocrite. HE wanted to send Coach to Exile to prove a point and as soon as he did, he felt sorry for him. Erinn had the guts to say something that every single one of them is thinking. I think she did the right thing, Coach was a jerk to her from the very beginning. Anyone dares to contradict Coach and he goes gunning for them. He's another hypocrite She should have saved it for tribal council though, I think. The jury really needs to know everyone's side of the story, because you know they're only getting Coach' skewed version of it today. And he set up his own failure with his list of ailments "but I'm not making any excuses!" REALLY? What was all that, then? Asthma? Who knew! Can't believe he didn't talk about that for the last 36 days, what a surprise! And his back? Maybe his "loved one" the real assistant coach, shouldn't have been performing those chiropractic moves on him, huh? He is unbelievable. I've never seen a man who could blow his own horn 24 hours a day like he does. In the Ponderosa videos, he talks about how he won't eat so he'll stay super-thin and go out looking like a warrior. Ugh. I wonder if he would deign to color his hair again, though? lol Enough with the "I'm so wonderful" stuff! He talks about he went out like a KING and how he can't be messed with, don't be playing any funny games with Coach! Gah. He's the biggest narcissist I've ever seen. He is using a cane at home, after the game was over. Gee. I guess he must break a leg or something. 37 years old and posing with a cane. He should be so ashamed of himself. There are people using canes because they HAVE to and don't want to, unlike HIM. He obviously only wants the attention and sympathy. He's such a jerk. I feel sorry for the rest of the jury having to deal with him now, but I bet they're all real happy back at camp.